Saudi Arabia Spotlights Haj Security
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
September 25, 2015 5 News & Analysis Gulf Saudi Arabia spotlights haj security Mahmud el-Shafey wave of bombings, including the Riyadh compound attacks. He stressed, however, that security au- London thorities were on high alert, ready to deal with any attempt to disrupt the audi Arabia deployed a mas- haj. sive security presence and “We’re active, we’re awake,” Turki warned against unrest dur- said, referring to elite counterter- ing what has been one of the rorism units, traffic police, emer- most difficult haj pilgrim- gency civil defence personnel and Sages in recent years after a crane additional army and national guard collapse in Mecca’s Grand Mosque troops deployed to Mecca to assist resulted in the deaths of more than with crowd control and safety. 100 people. In addition to security manpower, Riyadh installed 100,000 security Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry is personnel to oversee the annual haj using modern surveillance technol- pilgrimage, the Interior Ministry ogy to monitor pilgrims, including said amid fears of terrorist attacks approximately 5,000 CCTV cameras targeting pilgrims. installed throughout pilgrim sites. From a security standpoint the Close to 3 million people from run-up to the pilgrimage was more across the world descended on the tense than most, with Islamic State holy cities of Mecca and Medina to (ISIS) franchises in Saudi Arabia perform the haj — the fifth pillar of recently carrying out attacks, in- Islam. cluding suicide bombings targeting Saudi officials said they foiled a mosques. number of terrorist attacks in the Members of Saudi security forces take part in an exercise in preparation for the annual haj pilgrimage run-up to the pilgrimage, including in the holy city of Mecca, September 17th. Riyadh installed an attack on a major oil processing 100,000 security facility in Abqaiq on September 4th. ma. In the war against terrorism, the of haj or endanger the lives of the But for pilgrims, haj is a time of Authorities also raided two terror people are supporting the govern- guests of Allah,” Mohammed said unity, not division, with Muslims of personnel to oversee cells on September 16th, one in east- ment’s efforts by providing infor- before the start of haj. different nationalities, backgrounds the annual haj ern Riyadh and another in Dhurma mation about suspicion activities, and sects coming together to stand, pilgrimage in Riyadh governorate. They seized even of their own relatives. This Turki acknowledged shoulder to shoulder, and pray to- an explosive belt and bomb-making partnership should be considered a gether. “We always concentrate on haj equipment in Dhurma and arrested success,” Saudi writer Abdulaziz al- that 2015 had seen “During haj, Muslims from all over considering that a threat might ex- two people after a shoot-out with Jarallah said. the most terrorist the world gather at one site and per- ist. We’ve been targeted by terror- police. Two other suspects escaped. It is not just terrorists that Saudi acts since 2003 form the same rituals without any ism for years now and we know that This was the latest incident in a authorities are worried about, with discrimination on the basis of race, we are a target for terrorist groups,” major crackdown on ISIS, resulting Interior Minister Crown Prince Mo- At a time of sectarian infighting in gender, nationality or social status… Interior Ministry spokesman Major- in the arrest of more than 400 al- hammed bin Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz a number of Middle Eastern coun- People get closer, setting aside their General Mansour al-Turki told the leged members of the group in July. warning pilgrims against politicis- tries and major unease between ethnic, radical and economic differ- Associated Press on September 19th. “We feel proud of our security ing the haj. Tehran and Riyadh over Iran’s nu- ences,” said Saudi writer Abdullah Turki acknowledged that 2015 had agencies for carrying out successful “The security forces are ready to clear deal, there had been fears that Munawar Al-Jumaili in an op-ed seen the most terrorist acts since pre-emptive operations against ter- confront any irresponsible behav- political unrest could boil over dur- published in Saudi Arabian newspa- 2003, when al-Qaeda launched a rorists in eastern Riyadh and Dhur- iour that might pollute the purity ing the haj. per Al-Madinah. Gulf coalition eyes Yemeni capital Mahmud el-Shafey retake Sana’a following gains in to the city on September 22nd after pushed north from Aden, into cen- two artillery units, are arriving in southern Yemen, including captur- nearly six months in exile. tral Marib province. the province, according to local ing the strategic port city of Aden “The security file, reconstruc- In what amounted to a rare up- reports. London in July. tion and incorporating the south- date on fighting in Marib, which With the recent advances on the The legitimate government of ern resistance into the army,” top has been described as the Houthis’ ground, morale is high among the he Saudi-led anti-Houthi Yemen returned to Aden from ex- the government’s agenda, Bahah last line of defence before Sana’a, Gulf coalition troops, despite the coalition in Yemen is ile in Saudi Arabia on September said in his first news conference a coalition source told Agence loss of 45 Emirati, ten Saudi and carrying out air strikes 16th. Vice-President Khaled Bahah from Aden, according to the local France-Presse “things are going five Bahraini soldiers when a mis- against targets in and was among seven officials reaching Al-Ghad news website. slowly but surely”. sile hit an arms depot in Marib city around Sana’a in coordi- Aden, joining ministers who had “There will not be any negotia- “The battle to restore Marib is a on September 4th. Tnation with pro-government loyal- returned earlier in what represents tion [with the Houthis] before the vital operation because it will be “We won’t forget our blood. This ists who are preparing to march on a strong indication of the Gulf coa- government reclaims the country,” the beginning of a quick end [to [offensive] is a personal thing for the capital. lition’s confidence of its control in he said. the Houthis control],” the source the soldiers,” Kaabi said. This is part of a major offensive southern Yemen. Yemeni President The Saudi-led Gulf coalition, said. In what could be a setback for launched on September 14th to Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi returned backed by Hadi loyalists, has Brigadier-General Ali Saif al- the coalition, however, Houthis Kaabi, commander of the Emirati claim to have captured at least one contingent in the Gulf coalition, Saudi soldier. A Houthi-affiliated announced on September 15th that TV station showed unverified foot- Marib’s provincial capital had been age of a man dressed in military secured and that the rebels had fatigues who identified himself as fled to the mountains. Sergeant Ibrahim Hakmi of a Saudi “If you want to go to Sana’a, you brigade based in the Jizan border need to get to Marib, it’s the last area. The man said he was being line,” Kaabi said. held with several other Saudi sol- As they flee towards Sana’a, diers but did not say how many, Houthi fighters are deploying land nor how they were captured. mines and booby-traps to slow the coalition advance. The Gulf coali- The legitimate tion has faced some criticism for government of its inability to retake the governo- rate faster, including media reports Yemen returned to of poor coordination between coa- Aden from exile in lition partners. Saudi Arabia While clashes are ongoing in the central province, the coalition has Riyadh has not commented on the advantage. Analysts have high- the claim. The Saudi-led coalition lighted the strategic importance of has been carrying out air strikes controlling Marib for the battles to against Houthi targets in Sana’a come. ahead of the expected offensive. About 80% of the oil-rich central September 19th marked one of province’s population are Sunnis the heaviest days of strikes on the and only one of Marib’s five main capital, including targeting of the tribes has indicated support for the Interior Ministry, the presiden- Houthis. tial complex and a party building If the Gulf coalition is able to of former president Ali Abdullah seize control of the governorate, it Saleh. will be a vital staging point for an Local and international media eventual push on Sana’a. reported civilian casualties in the A soldier from the United Arab Emirates on the frontline conflict zone of Marib in central Yemen, on Reinforcements, including 20 ar- air strikes, which also hit the home September 16th. moured vehicles, three tanks and of Oman’s ambassador in Sana’a..